More Mauritius reflections:
There aren’t too many sidewalks, but they do observe crosswalks with a reverence that San Francisco could only dream about. Well- maintained gutters 2 feet deep and one feet across reflect a rainy season I am happy to miss.
They are moped helmet wearing, climate change awareness mural making, non-single use plastic bag shoppers. They employ beach sweepers and french string bikinis exist alongside full Burka cover-up swimming costumes.
Too bad Dodo No mo, but they’ve done pretty well with other species.
Extremely well marked taxis, the soft glow of sugarcane fields burning at night in the distance (except for the first time when I wondering if Grand Baie was aflame).
There are surprisingly few smells in this tropical place where black mold on concrete is de rigueur. And no photos reflect the feel of the air on your skin, the different breezes - running the gamut from none to gusty. Street level can be still but palm fronds can simultaneously dance wildly. It can be gentle on your skin, then sweat beads gracefully appear all over you, and then a breeze comes and cools you down. Never too humid, at times not at all. A few days impacted slightly by cyclone Bheki – and I still slept with doors and windows open (shout out to the few bugs). Few puddles on the floor, which dry quickly.
My physiological stress levels hasn’t been this low since I started wearing an Oura ring years ago. Feeling still and quiet inside — it’s been a minute — as I like to say. I’ve gone days without Wi-Fi and very often don’t carry my phone with me.
And yes, I know they have their qualities, but it’s funny to see garlic hair oil and onion shampoo. When I asked the gal in a fully stocked grocery store where the coconut oil is she said it was with the lotions and was very surprised to learn that you could cook with it — In a land where the Botanical Gardens have > 100 types of palm trees.
OMG almost forgot the giant fruit bats.
I’m heading to Madagascar for two weeks of exploring and trekking then Kenya (Daraja!) and then I’m still TBD - open to January suggestions.